False Statement takes out Batavia Sprint with a magnificent kick to the line


It was expected to be a hotly contested field for this year’s second running of the $100,000 Batavia Sprint and so it came to be as False Statement, ridden by veteran Peter Knuckey, timed his run perfectly.

Leading into the race the money had moved on to Corn Cob, coming into the gate as a $3.20 favourite with plenty of recent success at the track.

Not far behind was Kenyluck at $4.60 and the defending champion loomed as a threat despite returning middling performances in his two races at Ascot since a 238-day break between racing.

Jericho Missile and False Statement completed the top four prospects, both sitting at $6.

But at the start of the race it was Kenyluck who made the big move early, grabbing the lead burning across the front of the field and grabbing the rail.

He rounded the turn in the lead ahead of favourite Corn Cob and Human Nature.

He looked to have Corn Cob’s measure ahead by a length but into the final 200m he began to tire with Corn Cob and Human Nature swallowing him up.

It looked as if the two would fight it to the line but False Statement led a remarkable charge to the line passing them both in the final 50m to take the win with the top five all finishing within a length of each other.

False Statement finished ahead of Corn Cob in second and Human Nature in third while Bombay Style came home fourth with Kenyluck fading to finish in fifth.

Peter Knuckey was thrilled with his mount’s performance.

“He had a couple little quirks but when he came round the turn he really wanted to do it today and hats off to the guys, they’ve done a great job with him,” he said post race.

“Halfway up the straight I saw the gap appearing and I thought I’ve got them all covered here and he did a great job.”

His owner AJ Anderson was equally pleased with his performance.

“I’d like to thank trainer Felcity Forbes Ives and Peter Knuckey for a barnstorming ride there,” he said.

“We’ll rip the lid off the Gero hotel after this, it will be pumping.”

Outsider Armed and Ready, ridden by Natasha Faithfull, took race one ahead of heavy favourite Chiclett to take his first win since June.

Paint My Portrait won race two in the first win of his fledgling career ahead of favourite American Agent while Minus Looks stunned Be Seated and Sans Le Sou in what was expected to be a race between the two favourites.

Race four saw Allaboutthecraic take finish ahead of Risky Lyrics while Dream to Me took race five in his second win at Geraldton in as many atempts.

Galaxy Affair stormed home in race six while heavy favourite Edmond cantered home to take race seven.

Sure No Something made it three wins on the trot at the course all coming in the past month.



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